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Back again! - Jane Grigson to the rescue

I have sadly neglected my blog the past weeks - I have, though, had a serious "other" job to complete, so I do not feel too terribly guilty. I hope people will still come by here and check up on me! I have not been cooking for a while also, which has been really strange. I think I made two soups from leftover take-away meals which were nothing to be terribly proud of. Well, hopefully all is well that ends well. To get me into the swing again, here is another delicious and simple recipe from Jane Grigson. One of the reasons I have always stuck to this recipe is exactly because it has no special complications (except one which I have created)and, above all, it works wonderfully, but beautifully, with trout and salmon as well. I quote: Herrings in Oatmeal The best way of eating herrings. If you like [in fact the best thing to do - T.], rashers of streaky bacon can be fried first, and their fat used for cooking the herrings. Bacon and fish go well together [wrap some shrimp in bacon before grilling and test this theory! - T.] Serves 6 6 herrings salt, pepper 3 oz fine or medium oatmeal [my complication - I toast some rolled oats lightly in the oven and grind coarsely in the blender - T.] 4 oz butter [use somewhat less if you have bacon fat, but do not leave it out, or substitute any other fat - T.] lemon quarters [NB - not slices - do not be stingy with the lemon - T.] Ask the fishmonger to fillet the herrings from the back, so that they look like uncured kippers when they are opened out, with the thin part in the centre. [Rinse them briefly and do not dry them - T.] Season them with salt and pepper [careful with the salt if you are using bacon - T.], then press them, skin side and cut side, into the oatmeal so that they are [well- T.] coated with it. [For best results let them rest about 20 minutes for the oatmeal to cling well.]Fry them in the butter until cooked and lightly browned. Serve them with lemon quarters. From Jane Grigson: English Food Superb English breakfast food!